Wheel cover



Nw. 28, 1950 G. A. LYON WHEEL COVER Filed Nov. 18, 1946 IN VEN TOR.Gfaaf Pzfr l my Patented Nov. 28, 1950 eFH-ce;

11 Claims.

This invention relates to ang improvedl Wheel structure and is directedmore particularly to a novel cover assembly therefor;

Another object of the invention is toy prov-ideV a novel cover for awheel having a multi-flanged tire rim and load` sustaining body partwherein the cover ornamentallyl coneealsl the tirerim and is retained inengagement with the wheelbody.

VAnother object ofthe invention isto provide a cover assembly for awheel having a multiflangedI tire rim and a loadysustaining bodyy andwherein the cover assembly includes a tire-rimconcealing cover memberand novel retaining means for securing the cover member against thewheel body.

A furtherV object ofthe invention is to provide a cover assembly for awheel having a multiilanged tire rim and a bodypart wherein a resilientplastic trim ring is separably retained in place to conceal'the-tire rimandrengage the wheel body.

Yet anotherY object of the invention isl to provide a cover assembly ofthe character describedy wherein a cover mem-ber is detachably held in-Iplace on the wheel by retaining means-y whichneed not be removed fromthe w-heel when the cover member-is removed or replaced.

accordance with the general features ofthe invention, there isprovidedfor a Wheel having a multi-flangedtire rim` and a load sustaining. bodypart, a. coverassembly-including--a resilientlyflexible tri-mringmernberanda retaining member` forsecurng the trim ring member ineon. cealing relation to the outer side ofrthis tire rim, thetrimringmember andy the retain-ing member having slotted and lingeredinterengagement to render them separable for removing and replacingY thetrim ringwithout the necessity for removing the retaining member.

In further accordwith the features of= the invention, a cover assemblyis provided for a wheel having a multi-flanged tire rim and a load sustaining body part, the assembly comprising a resilientlyflexiblertrimrring member h aving radially inwardly extending tongues atits inner margin, and a retaining ring structure including a resilientlybiased portion engageable with said tongues for clamping the sameagainst the wheel body with the trim r-ing disposed in concealingrelation to the tire rim and part of the retaining ring.

Also in accordance with the general features ofthe invention, there isprovided a cover assembly for a wheel including a, multi-flanged tirerim and a load sustaining body part, wherein a trim ring member isadapted-to be disposed in conceal- 2. ingfrela-tion totheouter-sideof-thetire rimY and. a retaining-1 r-ingrnember` is`adapted tobe disposed in more or lessV permanentv engagement-with thetire rim and. bear against the radially-innen e: margin of the trix-nring for holdingit against.

the wheel body, the tri-mring-u arid-v theV retaining member beingdisposed incross-.cross interengagement whereby inner, marginal portionsof.` thetri-mring exten-d through clearancelopenings ff in`v theretainingmembeimand innermarginalportionsA of.'M the retaining memberYextendA through clearances in ther. inner marginalportion of the trimring. and.y the inn-enmarginal constructiond of: the` retaining memberris such as,U toconceal. 115i; the inner marginal portion. of. the trimring.

An` additional feature of. the invention resides in. thenovelconstruction and inter-.relationship otzthe tri-:n.ringandtheretainingmemberi where.- by the. retaining member is 'adaptedtdbemoraor.- less.. permanently. attached. to the wheel andthe trim. ringmemberJ is; adapted to beremoved or. replacedl by. springing the.yretaining, member out` of; clamping engagement. to the inner. marginalportion. of thetr-imring. mem-bers but in the fully assembled.:relationship. affords a` strong, retain: ing, clamping engagement with.the; inner marginal portion cit the. trim. ring member to. holdY itagain-st unintentional.displacement.

Other objects, features and. advantages of= the present invention willbecome apparent from the, following deseription. and the accompanyingdrawings in which.:

Figure 1 is a Side. elevational view. of a. wheel;a Structure. Emmeringthe, features of. the present;- e. andshoring the @werner-.deur brokenaway to4 reveal certainfeatiireso the inner stride,.-`- wre. thereof'vll'adial;ssiierla1-View..4 0n an altred Seele taken Substantially,alvnghe line: marrer rieure 1,; Figure.- F.. iS. ail'egmnterradial.Sefterial View tageninfsubstantiall the sameplane'a'slig'f e. 2.1m sharing the ring prima 0f the@ if? assembly inprocessy of being removed 'or replaced after the GOS/ler assembly helibeenmguntedr" the Wheel: Figure t isa. ragmentefv elan, View Qf. a rer-`tion 0f. the trim rirlgmember: and

Figure 5 is, a fragmentary .Side elevational'. View orl the retaining.member Qf.. the Wheel' assembly. AS shown on the drawings?- The presentinvention is. adapted to be embodied' in Qr. 1.1.1 asoatienvith vehicleSuch as. may be. use@ 0.1.1.. an @venerabile and in? cluding amulti-flanged drop-center type of tire i 3 rim I and a load sustainingbody portion l.

The tire rim has a base iiange I2 to which the body Il is secured and isformed with the usual side flanges including a radially outwardlyextending terminal iiange I3.

The wheel body il is formed with the usual generally axially outwardlyextending reinforcing nose bulge ld, and has a radially inner bolt-onange l5 which is adapted to be secured to a part of an axle as by meansof cap screws or bolts (not shown). |Ihe bulge I4 is adapted to serve asa seat for a hub cap Il which is formed with an axially inwardlyextending attachment ange ES adapted to engage with retaining means suchas integral, radially inwardly extending bumps I9 on the nose bulge I4.

According to the present invention, the outer side of the tire rim I3and the juncture thereof with the wheel body Il are adapted to beornamentally concealed by a cover assembly 25 coniprising an annulartrim-ring member 2l and retaining means in the form of an annularstructure 22 engageable with the inner marginal poition of the trim ringand equipped, as will be presently described, for engagement with theWheel for holding the cover in place.

The trim ring member 2i is preferably formed from a suitable resilientlydeiiectable but formsustainirig material which may be substantiallyresiliently deiiected locally without permanent deformation but will atail times, within reasonable limits, snap back to its original shapewhen released from deforming pressure or pull. Suitable material forthis purpose comprises a synthetic plastic such as ethyl cellulose,cellulose acetate or vinyl resins. Where the material is colored whiteor eggsnell and the trim ring is, as shown, oi' substantiallyconcavo-convex form and of a width to extend on a curve substantiallysimulating the curve of the sidewall of the tire I, the generalappearance afforded by the trim ring is that of a White wall, radiallyinward continuation of the sidewall of the tire. This presents anillusion of a massive tire extending substantially to the relativelysmall wheel body.

At its outer margin the trim ring 2l may be formed with a reinforcingliange 23 which may be slightly bowed axially inwardly so as tofacilitate centering the trim ring on the tire rim mari'lange I3.

At its inner margin the trim ring 2l is adapted to engage with theradially outer side of the nose portion Hi oi' the Wheel body and forthis purpose may be slightly reversely curved as compared with the mainbody of the trim ring to facilitate seating against the wheel body.

In order to facilitate interengageinent of the trim ring with theretaining structure 22, the radially inner margin of the trim ring ispreferably formed into a plurality of generally radially inwardlyextending tongues 2li which are disposed in circumferentially equallyspaced relation and may be in any suitable number, five having beenfound a desirable number.

The retaining structure 22 is preferably formed as an ornamentallybeaded annular member adapted to be more or less permanently secured inengagement with the tire rim IB and serving to clamp the trim ringlinger 24 removably to the wheel body. Io this end the retainingstructure 22 comprises an annular relatively stiif but inherentlyresilient ring body 25 of a width to bridge the gap between anintermediate flange 2l of the tire rim and an intermediate, annularpoint 4 on the radially outer side of the nose bulge I4 of the wheelbody.

Along its radially outer margin, the retaining ring member 25 is formedwith a circumferential series of equally spaced, retaining lingers 28extending in generally radially outwardly and axially outwardly obliquedirection. The fingers 28 are adapted to enter into substantiallybiting, wedging engagement with the radially inner face of theintermediate tire rim liange 2 when the retaining ring 25 is pressedaxially inwardly to force the retaining fingers 28 to flex from aninitial diameter slightly greater than the inside diameter of the tirerim flange 21. As a result, once the retaining ring member 25 has beenpushed axially inwardly into assembly with the tire rim, it issubstantially permanently held in place by the fingers 28 and anyoutward force on the ring 25 merely tends to cause the fingers 28 toenter into more thorough biting engagement with the rim liange 2l. Tofacilitate the flexure of the fingers 28, while at the same time toreinforce the body of the retaining ring 25, it is preferably formedwith a substantially ogee curvate cross-section.

Adjacent its inner margin, the retaining ring member 25 is formed with agenerally radially and axially outwardly extending intermediate flangeportion 29 while the radially inner margin of the ring extends from saidflange portion generally radially and axially inwardly and terminates inan annular generally radially inwardly and axially outwardly extendingbearing flange 30. This bearing flange serves to delimit by engagementwith the nose portion I4 of the wheel body the axially inward positionto which the retaining ring 25 is adapted to be pushed when it is beingmounted upon the wheel.

At spaced intervals corresponding to the spacing of the inner marginaltrim ring fingers 24, the intermediate flange 29 of the retaining ringis formed with circumferentially extending openings 3I through Which thefingers 24 are adapted to extend into clamped relation between thebearing flange 32 and the wheel body.

In order to afford an ornamental cover for the trim ring iingers 24 andthe clamping portion of the retaining ring 25 which engages the fingers,said clamping portion is equipped with an ornamental bead 32 which maybe of pleasing outwardly curved, bowed cross section with the oppositeedges turned under for reinforcement and to afford a finishedappearance.

Attachment of the bead 32 to the retaining ring 25 may be effected byengaging the hook shaped outer reinforcing flange 35 of the bead overgenerally radially outwardly extending retaining fianges 3l which areintegrally struck out of the intermediate flange 29 of the retaini ingring in the formation of the respective trim ring tongue-passageopenings 3|.

The inner marginal ange 34 of the trim ring may, as shown, substantiallyengage the inner edge of the bearing flange 39 and supplement thebearing action thereof, and in any event acts as a stiffener orreinforcement for the bearing flange tending to improve the clampingaction thereof against the trim ring flanges 24.

The width of the bead 32 is somewhat greater than the length of the trimring flanges 2d so as to afford complete concealment therefor. The bead32 may be formed from a polished material such as stainless steel.

In the initial assembly of the cover 20 with the wheel, the trim ring 2|may be preliminarily assembled with-the retaining `ring z by @insertingthe inner marginal iianges .24 of the ntrim ring through 'the openings`3| in the retaining ring and then ,pushing the cover assemblyaxiallyinwardly by pressing against the ornamental bead 32 until the retaininglingers 28have entered into full engagement with the intermediate tirerim flange `2l and the bearing ange 30 of the retaining ringhas clampedtheflanges 24 of r'the trim ring against the Wheel body. .In thisposition the /resiliently nexible trim ring 2| may be flexed open asshown in dot-dash outline in Figure f2 in which condition the roundedouter marginal flange 35 of the'ornamental bead affords a backing whichsaves the inner marginal portion or the trim ring against undue flexure-strain which might induce breaking. On the other handpthe trim ring `isadaptedto be readily flexed inwardly as lshown in dash outline for suchpurposes as to afford clearance for complete access to `a valve stemwhich is adapted to project through an aperture 38 provided thereforatan appropriate point in the trim ring.

vIn thefully assembled condition of the cover with the wheel, the innermargin of the trim ring and in particular the anges 24 thereof areadapted to be placed under axially inward tensionr conditioned to holdtheouter margin of the trim ring, that is the outer marginal flange 23thereof, in snug engagement with the edge of the terminal ange I3 of the`tire rim.

If forany reason it is desired to `remove or replace the trim ring 2|,this may beconveniently accomplished 'byfflexing the 4clamping margin 3Uof the retaining ring away from the wheel body to release the .trim ringanges 24 so that the latter can be withdrawn from the retainedengagement. For this purpose,v a .pry-off tool ,39 such as a screwdrivermay be inserted under the inner marginal flange l315 of the bead 32 andthe bead can thereby be flexed away from the wheel body substantiallyasshown in Figure 3, andi-lex the clamping ange 3| out of the clampingposition. Thereupon, by simple flexure of the resilient trim ring 2| asshown, the retaining tongues 24 thereof can be successively withdrawnthrough the clearance openings 3| until the trim ring is removed.

Replacement of the trim ring is adapted to be effected by reversal ofthis process, wherein the inner marginal retaining tongues 24 of thetrim ring are successively inserted through the respective clearanceopening 3|. When all of the iingers 2li have been inserted through therespective openings 3| and the trim ring has been centered, the clampingflange 3|) of the retaining ring member thoroughly clamps the fingers 24against shifting of the trim ring out of concentricity while the sideedges of the fingers engaging with the adjacent edges of the openings 3|hold the trim ring against relative rotation.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of theappended claims. l

I claim as my invention:

l. In a cover structure for a wheel including a multi-flanged tire rimand a body part, a trim ring member for disposition in concealingrelation to the outer side of the tire rim and having a plurality ofradially inward tongues at its inner margin, and a retaining memberhaving means thereon for attachment thereof lto tlie tire rim and`having a bearing lportionadapted 'to :engage in bearing relationto,saidtongues to 'clamp the same'against the Wheel body, saidretainingmember having openings therein for passage of said tongues to theaxially inner side ofsaid bearing portion.

2. In a cover'structure :fora wheel including Ia multi-hanged tire rimand a body part, `a trim ring member for disposition in concealingvrelation to the outer side of the-tire rim and having a plurality ofradially inward tongues atLits inner margin, and a retaining memberhaving means thereon for attachment thereof to the tire rim and having abearing portion vadapted to engage in bearingrelation to said tongues toclamp the sameagainst the wheel body, said retaining member havingopenings therein for passage of said tongues to the axially inner sideof said bearing portion, said means for engaging the tire rim comprisingretaining ngers bitingly fengageable With an intermediate flange of thetire rim for substantially permanently holding the retaining memberthereon.

3. In a cover structure for a wheel including a multi-flanged tire rimand a body part, a trim ringmember for disposition in concealingrelation to the outer side of the tirerrim and having a plurality ofradially inward tongues at its inner margin, ,and a retaining memberhaving means thereon for attachment thereof to the tire rim and having abearing portion adapted to engage in bearing relation to said tongues to4clamp the same against the Wheel body, said retaining member havingopenings therein for passage of said tongues to the axially inner sideof said bearing portion, said means for engaging the tire rim comprisingretaining lingers bitingly engageable with an intermediate ange oi thetire rim for substantially permanently holding the retaining memberthereon, said retaining member being flexible away from the clampingengagement `with respect to the body member for releasing saidyretaining fingers of the trim member.

4. In a cover construction for a wheel including a multi-flanged tirerim and body part, a resilient plastic trim ring member for concealingthe tire rim and having the inner marginal portion thereof formed withgenerally radially inwardly extending tongues adapted to bear againstthe wheel body, and a retaining ring member having openings therethroughthrough which said tongues extend and including a bearing part forclamping said tongues against the wheel body and a part for retainingengagement with one of said wheel parts.

5. In a cover construction for a Wheel including a multi-flanged tirerim and body part, a resilient, plastic trim ring member for concealingthe tire rim and having the inner marginal portion thereof formed withgenerally radially inwardly extending tongues adapted to bear againstthe Wheel body, a retaining ring member having openings therethroughthrough which said tongues extend and including a bearing part forclamping said tongues against the wheel body and a part for retainingengagement with one of said wheel parts, said retaining member havinggenerally radially outwardly extending retaining flanges thereon at theaxially outer sides of said openings, and a bead portion secured to theretaining member by said retaining iianges in concealing relation tosaid bearing portion and said trim ring tongues.

6. In a cover structure for a Wheel including a multi-flanged tire rimand a load Supporting body, an outer circular cover member adapted to bedisposed in concealing relation tothe tire rim and extending generallyradially inwardly to the body of the Wheel, and a second circular covermember adapted to be disposed at the body and extending generallyradially outwardly to the tire rim, said cover members beinginterengaged with the inner cover member retaining the outer covermember in place, the inner of said cover members having openingstherethrough and the outer of said cover members having tonguesextending through said openings and disposed to be concealed by andclamped in place against the wheel body by the inner cover member.

7. In a coverrstructure for a wheel including a multi-flanged tire rimand a load supporting body, an outer circular cover member adapted to bedisposed in concealing relation to the tire rim and extending generallyradially inwardly to the body of the wheel, and a second circular covermember adapted to be disposed at the body and extending generallyradially outwardly to the tire rim, one of cover members having openingstherethrough and the other of said cover members having fingersextending through said openings and behind said one cover member, theinner cover member retaining the outer cover member in place, the innerof said cover members having an ornamental bead concealing the junctureof the cover members.

S. In a cover structure fora wheel of the kind including a tire rim anda body part, a pair of circular cover members one oi' which is adaptedto be attached to the wheel and has a series of openings therein with aportion or such cover member adjacent to said openings engageable withone of the wheel parts, the other of said cover members having fingersthereon arranged to extend through said openings and behind said portionto be clamped thereby against said one Wheel part, said cover membersbeing separable by relieving the clamping engagement of said fingers 8against the wheel part and Withdrawal of the fingers from said openings.9. In combination in a cover structure for dis. position at the outerside of a vehicle Wheel, a pair of circular cover members one of whichhas openings therethrough and the other one of which has ngers thereonengageable in assembly, through said openings, said openings being de``openings therein and extend in generally over-- lying relation to therespective openings.

1l. In a Wheel structure including tire rim and f wheel body parts, acover for the outer side of the wheel including a pair of circular covermembers, each of the cover members having a marginal portion disposedbehind the other, the marginal portion of one of the cover memberscomprising a plurality of annularly spaced ingers, the other of thecover members having a plurality of openings therethrough through whichsaid iingers extend, said other cover member including means engagingwith one of the wheel parts to retain the cover in place and acting toclamp said ngers against the other of said wheel parts.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Lyon Jan. 30, 1945 Number

